Kansas Basketball Portal Targets to Watch in the 2024 Offseason
Kansas couldn’t hang for a full 60 minutes against Gonzaga in the Round of 32, losing 89-68. The Jayhawks actually looked good in the first half, leading 44-43 at halftime, but ran out of gas in the second half while Gonzaga couldn’t miss a shot and went on to win in a blowout.
Everyone who had been paying attention to the Kansas basketball program this season knew getting to the Sweet Sixteen without Kevin McCullar Jr would be tough. Depth was an issue with the Jayhawks all season, and that’s something head coach Bill Self will look to correct in the offseason.
The Jayhawks will say farewell to McCullar, Nick Timberlake, and Parker Braun, three regular contributors this past season. Now, what about freshman Johnny Furphy, who could potentially be an NBA lottery pick? Will Hunter Dickinson be back with one more year of eligibility remaining? No one can be sure, but we do know Self won’t be wasting any time trying to upgrade the roster and, at the very least, the depth of the 2024-2025 roster. Here’s where Kansas stands with a big offseason ahead.
Flory Bidunga is one of the highest-rated prospects in this upcoming class. He just won Indiana Gatorade High School Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He picked Kansas over Duke, Michigan, and Auburn. The 6-foot-9 center/forward will be a scoring, rebounding, and defensive threat for the Jayhawks from the moment he steps on the court at Allen Fieldhouse. He’s an elite athlete and should break into the starting lineup immediately.
The other 2024 recruits they’ve landed include: Labaron Philon, a 6-foot-3 guard from Link Year Academy in Branson, MO, and Rakease Passmore, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard/small forward from Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
After what some called questionable comments following the loss to Gonzaga, Self can now focus full-time on the transfer portal since KU’s season has come to a close. There are some interesting names popping up linked to the Jayhawks; let’s take a peek at a few of those players.
Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
He is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard originally from Lawrence, KS. Bring him home! He averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game for the Jackrabbits this past season and led South Dakota State to the NCAA tournament. He was also Summit League player of the year. Mayo and KU running back Devin Neal graduated in the same class at Lawrence High School and are still good friends. Mayo in a Jayhawk uniform would make a ton of sense. He could start alongside returning point guard Dejuan Harris or play the critical role as the first man off the bench.
Colby Rogers, Wichita State
Rogers led the Shockers in scoring, averaging 16 points per game, and set a single-season school record with 99 three-pointers made, shooting just over 40% from beyond the arch. He made at least one three pointer in 25 straight games at one point. He also made 83% of his free throw attempts.
Other Names to Keep an Eye On
Dante Maddox (Toledo): averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and 3 assists per game for the Rockets and was second-team All-MAC. He shot 40% from three and 81% at the free throw line.
Xavier Amos (Northern Illinois): A 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.
Michael Ajayi (Pepperdine): combo guard/forward who averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He shot an incredible 47% from three. He would be a nice fit to play McCullar’s former role.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Belmont): guard, averaged 17 points, four rebounds and two steals per game.
Jeff Nwwankwo (Cowley CC): a Forward who averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, and 2 assists per game. The 6’6” player is one of the top JUCO players on the market.
Jalen Lynch (Fairfield): three-year starter, averaged 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists per game last season. He would be a solid rotational player for the Jayhawks.
Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State): a center that was a former McDonald’s All-American and was highly recruited by Bill Self before choosing Oklahoma State, has entered the portal. He averaged 7.5 points, five rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for the Cowboys. If Dickinson returns, Garrison could take a year to be the backup center before taking over as the lead man in 2025. He’s a very effective post player offensively, and his shot-blocking is an effective tool in his game.
Amari Williams (Drexel): a 6-foot-10 forward, could be another option. He is a two-time CAA defensive player of the year and is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder. He averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks per game.
Self will be busy in the transfer portal regardless of decisions from Furphy and Dickinson, but filling the team with quality players who can start or fill the bench with depth will be critical in Kansas returning to form and being able to make a late run in March 2025.
